My goals are to:
Help the new mother to trust her own mothering instincts and to take joy in the realization that she is
exactly the right mother for her baby.
Give
the new mother the emotional support she needs to help her focus on her relationship with her newborn, to take her out of
her isolation, and to encourage her to listen to her heart and her baby.
Encourage the new mother to trust her intuition about her baby's needs and to gain
confidence in reading her baby's cues within the context of her own parenting philosophy and style.
Foster success in parenting.
Nurture the family.
As a postpartum doula
I “mother the mother,” helping her to navigate the first days, weeks or months after a new baby arrives. I
provide individualized care that may include any or all of the following services:
- recognizing
perinatal mood disorders and guiding mother to appropriate care.
- caring for the baby while the mother/family
takes a much-needed nap or break
- teaching newborn bathing, diapering techniques, and the super-swaddle
- helping the mother to develop feeding & sleeping strategies
- making sure the
new mother is fed, well hydrated, comfortable, and has a game plan.
- assessing for postpartum mood
disorders, referring the mother to support groups or clinical resources, and teaching her family how to support her.
As a lactation consultant, I understand how to address breastfeeding issues. By coming
to the home I am able to help from one breastfeeding session to the next in an environment that is more natural. As a result,
I am able to forestall breastfeeding challenges before they become more complex.The needs of the new mother can change from
day to day and may be different for every woman. Individualized care may include any or all of the following care:
- resolving
pain and challenges with early breastfeeding
- connecting mothers with the community resources they need
- guidance
with nursing multiples, preemies
- solving issues with milk supply and baby weight gain
- resolving complications
such as breast infection and engorgement
- providing information regarding pumping and storing breastmilk
- helping
problem solve with special circumstances such as breast surgery, baby/mother illness
